Degrees, Programs & Policies

Graduate College Degree Requirements and Restrictions

Graduate courses are typically scheduled from 7-weeks to 16-weeks in length and utilize a variety of formats: traditional classroom, blended (mixture of classroom and online), and totally online. The Organizational, Health Care, and Higher Education Leadership programs are offered totally online.  The Graduate College has three (3) sessions: fall, winter, and summer. All three (3) sessions are broken into two sub-sessions: fall 1 and fall 2; winter 1 and winter 2; and summer 1 and summer 2.

All graduate programs are based on professional competencies recognized by external authorities. The Education Program complies with standards set by the Michigan Department of Education. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program complies with standards set by the Michigan Board of Counseling.

In addition to coursework, the master’s degree programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, most concentrations in Education, and the Health Care Leadership program, require at least one three-credit-hour practicum and/or internship.

Canvas Student Orientation Requirement

It is important that the student familiarize themselves with the Graduate College website at https://mysiena.sienaheights.edu/ICS/Departments_and_Offices/Graduate_College/. Please refer to Important Documents on the left side of the page. Part of becoming familiar with the website also involves becoming familiar with the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). New students completing online coursework are required to complete the Canvas Student Orientation. Begin by:

1. Go to https://mysiena.sienaheights.edu/ics/ 
2. Select Canvas Homepage under My LMS Courses (right-hand side of page)
3. Under the Canvas Dashboard (left-hand side of page), select Student Orientation.
4. If a student experiences any difficulty logging on to MySiena, gaining access to courses, or accessing the orientation, please call the IT Help Desk at 517-264-7655.

Degree Planning and Advising

Following acceptance, part of the admissions process involves students and advisors developing a degree plan. This degree plan outlines the sequence of courses that the student will take. The degree plan takes into account which terms courses are offered, how many courses a student intends to take every year, and options if modifications to the plan are necessary. Because the degree plan is a tentative plan, the student is expected to initiate a meeting with the advisor to revise or make needed changes to the tentative degree plan.

Time Commitments

Most three (3) credit-hour graduate courses require students to attend live class sessions for a total of 10.5 to 42 hours and require an additional 50 – 150 hours of out-of-class and/or online learning activities, or 5 – 12 hours per week. Thus, part-time students are encouraged to take no more than two (2) courses per sub-session. Experience has shown that students who are working full-time should plan on taking at least two (2) years to complete the 36-credit-hour master’s degree programs in Education and Leadership, and should plan on taking at least three (3) years to complete the 60-credit-hour master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Benefits of the Graduate College at Siena Heights University

The University’s master’s degree programs offer: high academic quality; convenience in terms of location, schedule (night and weekend classes), and format (traditional, face-to-face, partly or totally online); highly qualified and experienced faculty; affordable price; convenient parking; small class sizes; free academic advising and career counseling; free use of the library, including inter-library loan (technology fees are assessed every session for use of computing and technology resources on all campuses).

All of the facilities and services on the Adrian campus are available to graduate students from all of the university’s locations. These facilities include: the library, computing resources (including the internet and e-mail), the counseling center, the career planning and placement center, the campus store, campus ministry, campus security, the health clinic, the residence halls, and the Fieldhouse.

Identification Cards

Students are required to have a Siena Heights University Identification Card if they wish to use the Adrian campus library or the computer center. ID cards may be obtained in the Office of Residence Life at no charge for the original card.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements and Restrictions

It is the responsibility of the student to make sure he/she has completed all of the requirements for a Baccalaureate degree from Siena Heights University. Academic advisors are assigned to guide students toward the successful completion of the degree.

1. Degree Requirements
   1. Total Credit Hours and Grade Point Average
      1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.
      2. A minimum 2.00 (“C”) grade point average for all university or college-level courses used for the degree. Some majors may require a higher GPA within the major.
      3. Transfer students must also maintain at least a 2.00 average for all credit hours attempted at Siena Heights University.
   2. Residency Requirements
      1. Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours at Siena Heights University.
         1. The residency requirement may be completed at the Adrian Campus, The Henry Ford College Center, the Jackson College Center, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Center, the Kellogg Community College Center, the Lake Michigan College Center, the Lansing Community College Center, the Metropolitan Detroit Program, the Monroe County Community College Center, the Online Learning Program, or any combination of the above.
         2. These credit hours may not include credits earned through cooperative work experience, internships, directed teaching, employer work experience evaluation, prior learning credit, or credit by examination.
      2. Completion of at least 12 of the last 30 credit hours at Siena Heights University except where prior arrangements have been made in writing with the director of the student’s major program and the appropriate academic dean.
      3. Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of 300/400 level courses. A minimum of 15 of these hours must be classroom or online credits earned at Siena Heights University.
   3. Proficiency Requirements
      1. Students must demonstrate proficiency in mathematics.
      2. Mathematics proficiency is met by meeting one of the following criteria:
         1. a grade of “C” or better in any course that satisfies the university’s Liberal Arts Requirement in mathematics; or
         2. a grade of “C” or better in MAT 102, MAT 104 , MAT 106  at Siena; or
         3. an ACT mathematics sub score of 23 or above; or
         4. passing the mathematics section of the Michigan High School Proficiency Test (HSPT); or
         5. a passing score on the Siena Heights University Mathematics Proficiency Test (21 out of 26).
         6. a score of 50 on the College Algebra CLEP exam.
      3. Students must demonstrate proficiency in English composition 102 or equivalent with a grade point of 2.0 or greater.
   4. Placement Tests
      All incoming Siena Heights University first year students will be placed in English based on high school standard test scores, English writing placement and high school transcript evaluation. Students will be placed in mathematics based on a combination of standard test scores and high school transcript evaluation.
   5. Liberal Arts
      1. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Applied Science students with fewer than 16 transfer credits at the time they first enroll at Siena Heights University and are considered first-time freshmen are required to complete the entire 28 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      2. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Applied Science students with 16-55 transfer credits at the time they first enroll at Siena Heights University are required to complete 25 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      3. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Applied Science students with 56-87 transfer credits at the time they first enroll at Siena Heights University are required to complete 18-19 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      4. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Applied Science students with 88+ transfer credits at the time they first enroll at Siena Heights University are required to complete 15-16 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      5. Bachelor of Fine Arts students are required to complete 15-16 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      6. Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science students are required to complete 21-22 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      7. Students may double count Liberal Arts courses in their majors and minors and other program requirements.
      8. Transfer courses taken on a quarter system (10-week minimum) that meet other Siena Heights criteria can meet Siena Heights University’s Liberal Arts requirement.
      9. Courses taken at Siena Heights University on the 7-week cycle also satisfy the Liberal Arts requirement.
      10. Courses designated in the University catalog as fulfilling Liberal Arts requirements and completed satisfactorily for credit (CR or letter grade) will fulfill Liberal Arts requirements.
      11. Credit earned by means of CLEP, Advanced Placement, Military Service (ACE approved), and Prior Learning Petition will fulfill Liberal Arts requirements providing that such credit has been designated by the appropriate department chairperson or program director as fulfilling Liberal Arts requirements.
   6. Major Requirements and Restrictions
      1. All students must complete all the requirements for an academic major.
      2. All majors require a minimum of 30 credit hours with a 2.00 (“C”) grade point average. Some programs require a higher grade point average. See program requirements.
      3. Students must complete at least three courses in their major at Siena Heights University. Some majors require more (see major requirements). These courses must be approved by the program director in the major field. This requirement does not apply to students with an inverted major.
      4. Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis may not be included in the major except the following courses: EDU 480 , MAT 295 , MAT 296 , MAT 396 , and all PED courses.
      5. Some programs disallow “D” grades in the major. See program requirements.
      6. Some programs have additional requirements. See program requirements.
      7. Siena Heights students may earn a second baccalaureate degree at Siena Heights University by the satisfactory completion of a second major and a second residency.
      8. A maximum of 18 credit hours of Prior Learning credit may be included within the baccalaureate degree. Prior Learning credit may be used as either required or elective credit within a major or minor at the discretion of the department chairperson or program director. Such credit will be transcripted as “CR.”
   7. Minor Requirements and Restrictions
      1. Students do not need to complete a minor unless they are seeking teacher certification.
      2. All minors require a minimum of 20 credit hours with a minimum of a 2.00 (“C”) grade point average.
      3. Courses taken on a CR/NC basis may not be included in the minor.
      4. Some departments disallow “D” grades in the minor. See program requirements.
      5. Prior Learning Credit may be utilized in the minor at the discretion of the department chairperson or the program director. Such credit will be transcripted as “CR.”
2. Degree Restrictions
   1. A maximum of six credit hours of developmental course credit may be included within the baccalaureate degree. Developmental courses may be identified as courses below the college introduction level.
   2. A maximum of 8 credit hours of elective CR/NC credit may be included within the baccalaureate degree. (The following courses are not included within this 8 credit hour limitation: EDU 480 , MAT 295 , MAT 296 , and MAT 396 .
   3. A maximum of four credit hours of physical education activity courses may be included within the baccalaureate degree. Activity courses may be repeated for credit.
   4. A maximum of 36 credit hours of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit may be included within the baccalaureate degree. This credit does not count toward residency requirements.
   5. A maximum of 24 credit hours of cooperative work experience may be included within the baccalaureate degree. Cooperative work experience includes all off-campus experiential learning. This credit does not count toward residency requirements.
   6. A maximum of 18 credit hours of prior learning credit may be included within the baccalaureate degree. Prior learning petitions must be approved three months prior to graduation. This credit does not count toward residency requirements.
   7. All students must apply for graduation by set deadlines.

Associate Degree Requirements and Restrictions

It is the responsibility of the student to make sure he/she has completed all of the requirements for an associate degree from Siena Heights University. Academic advisors are assigned to guide students toward the successful completion of the degree.

1. Degree Requirements
   1. Total Credit Hours and Grade Point Average
      1. Completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours.
      2. A minimum 2.00 grade point average for all university or college level courses used for the degree.
      3. Transfer students must also maintain at least a 2.00 average for all credit hours attempted at Siena Heights University. Some majors may require a higher gpa within the major.
   2. Residency Requirements
      1. Completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours at Siena Heights University.
         1. The residency requirement may be completed at the Adrian Campus, the Henry Ford College Center, the Jackson College Center, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Center, the Kellogg Community College Center, the Lake Michigan College Center, the Lansing Community College Center, the Metropolitan Detroit Program, the Monroe County Community College Center, the Online Learning Program, or any combination of the above.
         2. These credit hours may not include credits earned through cooperative work experience, internships, employer work experience evaluation, prior learning credit, or credit by examination.
      2. Completion of at least 9 of the last 18 credit hours at Siena Heights University except where prior arrangements have been made in writing with the director of the student’s major program and the appropriate academic dean.
   3. Proficiency Requirements
      1. Students must demonstrate proficiency in mathematics.
      2. Mathematics proficiency is met by meeting one of the following criteria:
         1. a grade of “C” or better in any course that satisfies the university’s Liberal Arts Requirement in mathematics; or
         2. a grade of “C” or better in MAT 102, MAT 104 , MAT 106  at Siena; or
         3. an ACT mathematics sub score of 23 or above; or
         4. passing the mathematics section of the Michigan High School Proficiency Test (HSPT); or
         5. a passing score on the Siena Heights University Mathematics Proficiency Test (21 out of 26).
      3. Students must demonstrate proficiency in English composition 102 or equivalent with a grade point of 2.0 or greater.
   4. Placement Tests
      All incoming Siena Heights University first year students will be placed in English based on high school standard test scores, English writing placement and high school transcript evaluation. Students will be placed in Mathematics based on a combination of standard test scores and high school transcript evaluation.
   5. Liberal Arts
      1. Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science students are required to complete 15-16 credit hours of Liberal Arts requirements.
      2. Students may double count Liberal Arts courses in their majors.
      3. Students may transfer in all Liberal Arts requirements for the associate degree.
      4. Transfer courses taken on a quarter system (10-week minimum) that meet other Siena Heights criteria can meet Siena Heights University’s Liberal Arts requirement.
      5. Courses taken at Siena Heights University on the 7-week cycle also satisfy the Liberal Arts requirement.
      6. Courses designated in the University catalog as fulfilling Liberal Arts requirements and completed satisfactorily for credit (CR or letter grade) will fulfill Liberal Arts requirements.
      7. Credit earned by means of CLEP, Advanced Placement, Military Service (ACE approved), and Prior Learning Petition will fulfill Liberal Arts requirements providing that such credit has been designated by the appropriate department chairperson or program coordinator as fulfilling Liberal Arts requirements.
   6. Major Requirements and Restrictions
      1. All students must complete all the requirements for an academic major.
      2. All majors require a minimum of 30 credit hours with a 2.00 grade point average. Some programs require a higher grade point average. See program requirements.
      3. Students must complete at least two courses in their major at Siena Heights University. These courses must be approved by the program director in the major field. This requirement does not apply to students with an inverted major.
      4. Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis may not be included in the major except the following courses: EDU 480 , MAT 295 , MAT 296 , MAT 396 , and all PED courses.
      5. Some programs disallow “D” grades in the major. See program requirements.
      6. Some programs have additional requirements. See program requirements.
      7. A maximum of 9 credit hours of Prior Learning credit may be included within the associate degree. Prior Learning credit may be used as either required or elective credit within the major at the discretion of the department chairperson or program coordinator. Such credit will be transcripted as “CR.”
2. Degree Restrictions
   1. A maximum of six credit hours of developmental course credit may be included within the associate degree. Developmental courses may be identified as courses below the college introduction level.
   2. A maximum of four credit hours of elective CR/NC credit may be included within the associate degree. (The following courses are not included within this 4 credit hour limitation: EDU 480 , MAT 295 , MAT 296 , and MAT 396 .
   3. A maximum of two credit hours of physical education activity courses may be included within the associate degree. Activity courses may be repeated for credit.
   4. A maximum of 18 credit hours of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit may be included within the associate degree. This credit does not count toward residency requirements.
   5. A maximum of 12 credit hours of cooperative work experience may be included within the associate degree. Cooperative work experience includes all off-campus experiential learning. This credit does not count towards residency requirements.
   6. A maximum of nine credit hours of prior learning credit may be included within the associate degree. Prior learning petitions must be approved three months prior to graduation. This credit does not count towards residency requirements.
   7. All students must apply for graduation by set deadlines.

Liberal Arts Learning, Learning Outcomes & Requirements for Undergraduate Students

Liberal Arts Learning

Liberal Arts Studies helps students understand their relationship to the world and provides them with a foundation for life-long learning. Students encounter the ideals, values, knowledge, skills and capabilities that will enable them to be moral and intellectual leaders in a pluralistic world. Addressing liberal arts is not the purview of any particular program; rather, it is a challenge to the entire academic community.

Siena Heights University cherishes its Catholic and Dominican heritage and expects that its graduates will embody values of these traditions as they are encountered throughout their academic experience. In an atmosphere that fosters excellence, the liberal arts curriculum strives to engage all students in the foundational wisdom of cultures, past and present, to develop the kind of intellectual curiosity, discipline and judgment needed to fulfill their aspirations and to meet their obligations.

Learning Outcomes

Liberal Arts Learning

Students will be conversant with the ideas, content and methods of various disciplines.

• Students will synthesize ideas, content, and methods of various disciplines.
• Students will demonstrate information literacy and technical proficiency appropriate for scholarly and professional work.
• Students will analyze texts (written, visual, oral, presentational, etc.) to elevate critical thinking skills.
• Students will examine diversity and interdependence of cultures.
• Students will explore civic and social responsibility.
• Students will evaluate the ethical dimensions of personal and professional decisions.

Communication

Students will communicate effectively.

• Students will be able to express ideas, facts and research in comprehensible and grammatically correct written and oral formats.
• Students will demonstrate an ability to listen to and understand the communication of others.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate in persuasive and informative modes of expression.
• Students will communicate using a variety of modern technologies and media.

Critical Thinking

Students will create new insights by analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing various forms of information.

• Students will analyze information by breaking it down into its component parts, and then organizing the components into a structure that reveals how the parts are interrelated.
• Students will evaluate information, checking for relevance, credibility, and logical fallacies.
• Students will synthesize information, creating new forms of knowledge through a process of planning and producing.
• Students will create rationally articulated arguments based on interdisciplinary knowledge and abilities.

Creativity

Students will understand and engage in creative problem solving.

• Students will create novel and appropriate solutions
• Students will generate a variety of potential solutions
• Students will distinguish between effective and ineffective creative strategies.

Artistic Traditions

Students will engage in hands-on art activities that foster artistic culture.

• Students will participate in the creation and presentation of studio art, theater, music, or creative writing.
• Students will describe and analyze their own artistic process.
• Students will describe and analyze historical artworks within their cultural contexts.

Diversity in Community

Students will understand the diversity and interdependence of cultures.

• Students will be able to recognize important points of convergence and difference among various cultures.
• Students will cultivate an understanding of globalization that recognizes its promising and problematic features.
• Students will explain how an environment of inclusion and respect across social and cultural differences contributes to peacemaking.

Social and Civic Responsibility

Students will respond to the demands of civic and social responsibility.

• Students will identify the implications of a belief in inalienable human rights.
• Students will explain the relationship between peace, justice, and the common good.
• Students will evaluate the role of human activity in the maintenance of a sustainable environment.
• Given a situation, students will analyze forces that have shaped civic policies and participation.
• Students will propose ways to address contemporary social and civic issues.

Religious Traditions

Students will reflect on the wisdom of religious traditions.

• Students will be able to identify sacred narratives and texts, beliefs, practices and moral values associated with some of the world’s major religious traditions.
• Students will be able to identify developments in religious doctrines and traditions in various historical-cultural contexts
• Students will be able to distinguish the different types of questions, methods, norms and sources underpinning religious studies and theology.
• Students will recognize a variety of religious responses to modernity and the scientific revolution including various fundamentalisms as well as more integrative responses.
• Students will identify characteristics of the Dominican tradition.

Ethical Integration

Students will evaluate the ethical dimensions of personal and professional decisions.

• Given a situation, students will be able to identify any ethical issues involved.
• Students will explain various approaches to ethical decision making.
• Students will articulate and explain an ethical response to an issue.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to be ethical in their scholarly endeavors.

Liberal Arts Requirements, College of Arts and Sciences

Integrated Learning

Liberal Arts Requirements, College for Professional Studies

The following courses are recommended for fulfilling CAS or CPS Liberal Arts Requirements.

CLEP Equivalencies for Liberal Arts Requirements

English Composition

The CLEP English Composition Modular (no essay) is equivalent to ENG 102 . This exam fulfills three credit hours of the Liberal Arts Studies requirement.

Mathematics

The CLEP exam in Calculus with Elementary Functions will satisfy the Liberal Arts Studies requirement.

Social Science

If a student passes the CLEP Social Science/History exam (for which Siena Heights University awards six credits) he/she will have satisfied and social science Liberal Arts Studies requirements. The CLEP subject exams in sociology, psychology (including Educational Psychology), and economics also satisfy the Liberal Arts Social Studies requirements.

Liberal Arts Studies Equivalencies from Selected Community Colleges.

Courses from selected community colleges may fulfill Siena Heights University Liberal Arts Studies requirements. Program coordinators will determine whether or not these courses will satisfy major/minor requirements. Specific course equivalencies are subject to change based on modifications at community colleges or at Siena Heights University.

Application for Graduation

Students who expect to graduate must apply via an electronic Application for Graduation on MySiena. All requirements must be completed before a student can graduate from Siena Heights University.

Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to be granted a degree, and graduate college students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to be granted a degree.

Graduation occurs three times during the academic year; May (end of winter session); August (end of summer session); and December (end of fall session). However, the university holds only one commencement ceremony in May.

Commencement

The Commencement Ceremony is held each year in May. Participating in the commencement ceremony does not necessarily signify that all degree requirements have been met.

Majors and Minors

The term “major” denotes a student’s primary emphasis in college, suggesting a high degree of expertise in a particular field. The term “minor” suggests specialization, but with lesser emphasis than does a major. Majors often require between 35 and 60 credit hours while minors require around 21 credit hours. Siena Heights requires a major of all its graduates, but only baccalaureate graduates seeking Teacher Certification are required to have a minor. For all other students, a minor is optional. See the Education Section for a list of minors for Teacher Certification.

Concentrations

A “concentration” is a series of courses in a specific field within a major. Business Administration, Child Development, Community and Human Services, English and Mathematics offer concentrations within the major. See the individual major program pages for information on the available concentrations.

Contract Major

High ability students may design their own degree programs with a contract major. The contract major requires students to accept significant responsibility for designing and executing their programs. Interested students should contact the Director of Academic Advising or the appropriate site director.

Teacher Certification

Siena Heights University is a State of Michigan approved Educator Preparation Institution (EPI). Approval by the Michigan Department of Education as an EPI means that all programs within the EPI contain a minimum of 12 weeks of full-time preservice clinical experience and pedagogical coursework.Please refer to the Division of Education’s website for all handbooks and other program information: https://divisionofeducation.sienaheights.edu/

Theological Studies Program

Certificate: Thirty-six hours of undergraduate Theology coursework is required to fulfill requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Bachelor Degree: Completion of the thirty-six hour Theological Studies certificate could also constitute a contracted baccalaureate degree major. Students would be required to fulfill requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

College for Professional Studies and Graduate College

In addition to academic opportunities on the Adrian campus, Siena Heights University offers degree completion programs at the eight centers listed below, as well as an Online Learning Program and Theological Studies Program.

The university also offers Master of Arts degree programs in Education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Leadership. Not all programs are offered at all locations. Courses taken at one location may be applied to the program requirements at another location; program requirements are the same at all locations. For detailed information about programs and courses at a particular location, contact the degree completion center directly at http://www.sienaheights.edu/Locations.aspx

Online Learning Program

(800)521-0009, x7195
e-mail: online@sienaheights.edu

Henry Ford College Center

Dearborn, Michigan
313-317-9450
e-mail: hfc@sienaheights.edu

Jackson College Center

Jackson, Michigan
(517) 796-8672
e-mail: jackson@sienaheights.edu

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan
269-488-4019
e-mail: kalamazoo@sienaheights.edu

Kellogg Community College Center

Battle Creek, Michigan
(269) 965-3931, x2950 or (800) 203-1560
e-mail: battlecreek@sienaheights.edu

Lake Michigan College Center

Benton Harbor, Michigan
(269) 927-6711 or (800) 252-1562, x6711
e-mail: bentonharbor@sienaheights.edu

Lansing Community College Center

Lansing, Michigan
(517) 483-9726
e-mail: lansing@sienaheights.edu

Monroe County Community College Center

Monroe, Michigan
(734)384-4133 or (800)462-5114, x4133
e-mail: monroe@sienaheights.edu

Note: Some degree completion programs offered at Michigan locations involve online course delivery. Please consult with an enrollment advisor for more information.

Class Instruction: College for Professional Studies and Graduate College

There are several ways in which you can participate in courses to complete your degree in the College for Professional Studies and Graduate College at Siena Heights University.

Traditional Classroom Instruction

Scheduled classroom sessions are available in a number of formats. For detailed information about courses at a particular location, contact the center directly.

Online Learning (via the Internet)

Online learning provides flexibility for busy learners. However, online learning also demands a disciplined approach from all learners. Each instructor approaches class differently, but all require that students participate in online interaction multiple times per week.

Students must have the appropriate learning materials/textbooks ready by the start of the course. Delays in purchasing materials could impact course performance. Course syllabi are posted in advance for students to purchase materials, as noted, and review policies, assignments, and other important information. In most online courses, a “pre-class assignment” is due at the start of the course, where students are provided access to their online course roughly 5 – 7 days in advance of the official course start.

Accelerated online courses can offer potentially faster degree completion. With accelerated delivery, though, online courses commonly stay active on various holidays or breaks (e.g., spring break on the residential main campus). Personal or extra-curricular events are not considered extenuating circumstances with accommodations, so students should consider their availability to fully participate in online course delivery.

Successful online learners require adequate computer skills and knowledge, an ability to manage time and an ability to be self-directed in their studies. Online learners must also have access to a computer and to the Internet at times that meet course expectations and individual schedules. Online learners are required to complete a student orientation prior to enrollment in their first online course.

There are two types of online learning courses:

Hybrid (or Blended Online) combines the traditional classroom instruction with the scheduling flexibility of online learning. This is an accelerated course which lasts seven weeks. 

Completely Online is also an accelerated course that lasts seven weeks*. All course participation, assignments, exams and collaboration is done via the Internet.

*One completely online course is offered in a 15-week format.

Canvas Student Orientation Requirement

Siena Heights University uses Canvas learning management system (LMS) for online course delivery. All new students enrolled in online courses must complete the Canvas Student Orientation prior to their first online course. To access the orientation:

1. Login to MySiena at https://mysiena.sienaheights.edu/ics/
2. Select Canvas Homepage under My LMS Courses (right-hand side of page)
3. From the Canvas Dashboard (left-hand side of page), select Student Orientation
4. If a student experiences any difficulty logging on to MySiena, gaining access to courses, or accessing the orientation, please call the IT Help Desk at 517-264-7655.

Undergraduate Students Seeking a Second Degree from Siena Heights University

Students who are interested in completing another bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights University must complete the following requirements.

1. Students transferring from another institution:
   1. Students who already have a baccalaureate level degree from another institution will be required to complete the Liberal Arts requirements set by the University. See the Liberal Arts for Students Seeking a Second Degree from SHU below.
   2. Students will be required to complete a 30-hour residency with Siena Heights University. These hours will accumulate from the point that the student enrolls in their new degree program with Siena Heights University.
   3. Siena Heights University will accept the previous baccalaureate degree in total. Any “D” grades earned in the first degree will be accepted for possible use as elective credit in the second degree or in the major as determined by the program coordinator.
   4. Major requirements are set by each program. A formal plan for the Siena Heights University major will be placed on file in the Registrar’s Office. This plan will show what course work, if any, from the first degree will be applied to the Siena Heights University major.
2. Alumni students returning for a second baccalaureate degree:
   1. Students who have already completed Liberal Arts requirements through their first degree, and/or have graduated within the last 7 years are exempt from doing another program of Liberal Arts. All other Siena alumni will be required to complete any outstanding requirements under the Liberal Arts category of transfer students with 56+ hours of completed work.
   2. Students will be required to complete a 30-hour residency with Siena Heights University. These hours will accumulate from the point that the student enrolls in their second degree program with Siena Heights University.
   3. Major requirements are set by each program. A formal plan for the Siena Heights University major will be placed on file in the Registrar’s Office. This plan will show what course work, if any, from the first degree that will be applied to the second Siena Heights University major.

Liberal Arts for Students Seeking a Second Degree from SHU

* Must be completed at Siena Heights University. Previous course work may fulfill any requirement within Liberal Arts except those requirements marked with an asterisk.

** Consult with the program coordinator for requirements within the major.

Undergraduate Students Seeking a Second Major from Siena Heights University

Under the following circumstances, students may add a second major if the first major has been completed:

1. All requirements for the second major will be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in the form of a written contract. This contract will name the courses to be used within the second major. The contract will be signed by the program coordinator, the student’s advisor or site director, and by the student.
2. The above contract must be on file at the Registrar’s Office at least one session prior to the last session of the student’s enrollment and graduation with this major.
3. Some majors will not allow double counting for residency. Some majors will not allow double counting from one major to another. For example, the Business Administration and Accounting majors will only allow cognates to be double counted for both majors. Check with the program coordinator for further information on double counting.
4. Students wishing to complete a second major outside of their original degree area must complete the requirements for a second degree. Residency will not double count. Each degree is allowed to grant specific majors (see below). A second major may be granted if the second major is under the same degree area. For example, a student who has completed an Art major could not complete a Biology major within the same degree. The student, in this case, must complete the requirements for a second degree and major. When adding a second major, only a major within a degree area will be granted.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Art
Child Development
Community and Human Services
Computer and Information Systems
Criminal Justice
Elementary Integrated Science
English
Global Studies
History
Humanities
Integrated Science
Language Arts
Mathematics
Multidisciplinary Studies
Music
Music Education
Philosophy
Probation, Parole and Community Corrections
Professional Communication
Psychology
Religious Studies
Social Science
Social Studies Education
Spanish
Theatre/Musical Theatre
Theatre/Speech Communication
Theological Studies

Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.)

Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)

Accounting
Business: Business Administration
Management
Marketing
Sport Management

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

Art
Art History
Graphic Design

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Applied Mathematics
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

Nursing

Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)

Social Work

Graduate Students: Second Concentration and Second Major Requirements

Second Master’s Degree Requirements

Students who desire to pursue a second master’s degree at Siena Heights University shall have completed all requirements for the first master’s degree at Siena or another accredited college or university. The same requirements for admission to a graduate program (such as filling out the application and following the requirements of the application checklist) and other conditions relative to the pursuit of the first master’s degree are applicable to the second master’s degree, except a maximum of six (6) credit-hours of completed graduate work from the first master’s degree may be applied toward the second master’s degree if such courses are appropriate for the second program and are approved by the respective program director for inclusion in the program. In most cases, for graduate students whose first master’s degree is from Siena Heights University, those six (6) credit-hours are from the common core courses such as LDR 601 Leadership Theory  and LDR 600 Research and Professional Writing  , providing these two (2) courses have been taken within the seven (7) year limit for completion of degree requirements for the second master’s degree.

Exceptions to this policy will be granted when a student is enrolled in a Graduate College sanctioned dual major or dual degree program.

Second Concentration Requirements

Students who desire to pursue a second concentration in a given Master of Arts program (Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Leadership, or Education) must complete the required courses for that program concentration. Elective courses cannot be counted twice. For example; a student who has completed the Organizational Leadership program and wishes to complete the requirements for the Healthcare Leadership program does not have to retake the common core courses, but must take the required courses for the new concentration.

When applying for the second master’s degree or concentration and financial aid will be needed, it is highly recommended that the student make an appointment with the financial aid office. If applying within the same year of graduation, students will need to submit an application, application fee, and official transcript with degree conferred. If more than a year has lapsed, students must submit an application as if new to the program, and follow the requirements listed on the checklist. When the second concentration is completed, students must submit an application for graduation, marked “major only” to the Registrar for the nearest upcoming graduation. Students do not participate in commencement for second concentrations nor are they awarded additional diplomas.

Exceptions to this policy will be granted when a student is enrolled in a Graduate College sanctioned dual major or dual degree program.